Review - Divergent By Veronica Roth

"One choice can transform you. Pass initiation. Do not fail…
Thrilling urban dystopian fiction debut from exciting young author.
In sixteen-year-old Beatrice Prior’s world, society is divided into five factions – Abnegation (the selfless), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent) – each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue, in the attempt to form a “perfect society.” At the age of sixteen, teens must choose the faction to which they will devote their lives.
On her Choosing Day, Beatrice renames herself Tris, rejects her family’s group, and chooses another faction. After surviving a brutal initiation, Tris finds romance with a super-hot boy, but also discovers unrest and growing conflict in their seemingly “perfect society.” To survive and save those they love, they must use their strengths to uncover the truths about their identities, their families, and the order of their society itself."


I was very fortunate to have been sent an ARC of this.  I was so excited when I opened the package - I had no idea I was getting it!!

Firstly the cover. Very eye catching.  Gives you a good idea of what the setting is, so you can picture it just that bit easier.   I generally find with dysotopian books, that I picture kind of medieval settings.  I have no idea why I do this, but my strange head does.  It was just that bit more helpful to have a picture to refer to.

I found the idea of this book amazing.  I already find it hard when I think of people making decisions about college courses or jobs at 16, but this books takes it even further in that you make the decision & that is final.  You're only alternative to choice, is to basically become what is considered the dregs of society.  Whilst reading I thought of the people in factions as Upper Classes & the factionless as working class.  I hope I'd fit into a faction, but would be terrified of ending up factionless, as I quite possibly would!
The use of factions for the book is such a great idea too.  I can already imagine my book friends and I, discussing which faction we're in & who's better.  Oh I do love our book fangirling!
The five Factions Abnegation, Candor, Dauntless, Amity And Erudite, I couldn't help but think of them in school group terms.  I thought Dauntless would definitely be the bad, but cool kids.  The Erudites would definitely be the geeks.  I think I would actually fit in with Amity as to be honest I am a bit of a chicken & just like peace, which is a shame because I love the sounds of the Dauntless' fashion & their tattoos!  I am a huge tattoo fan & hope to build on my one little inkage and I probably shouldn't say this, but this book has inspired me to get more.  Veronica Roth you are to blame :)

There is A lot of anticipation building with the book, which seriously got my heart racing.  I honestly had no idea where the story was going to go to next, this made it really hard to put down & get sleep though - I warn you!!
It was very enjoyable to read Tris' thought processes.  The way she solves life's puzzles and sorts out her predicaments, absolutely fascinated me.  I should learn from her for sure!

I do have to say that the story is quite harrowing and dramatic at times & although I did really enjoy the story (seriously I did) I couldn't quite understand why anyone would stay where they were, enduring what they were.  I guess this shows more of my cowardice or maybe just how brave the character of Tris is.

There are such huge twists in the characters.  It was deeply shocking.  I really didn't expect for some of them to act the way they did.  It really does keep you on your toes.

As with most YA stories there is a budding romance & a dreamy guy.  But the dreamy guy (Four) in the book is my new FAVOURITE!  OK I know I do say this a lot, but I think this is the one.  Four I LOVE YOU!!!  Please can you materialise in my home town & become my beau???  I will even try and become a domestic goddess for you, and that is something that would shock everyone I know!!

The story leads to a very dramatic conclusion, with yet again lots of twists and turns and heartbreak and relief.  The story didn't have a perfect happy end which I actually loved.  Its so much more 'realistic' to have sadness & not be completely lucky.

This is without doubt my favourite book of the year so far, quite possibly one of my all time favourite books.  It has everything humour, love, action, heartbreak, deception, fear and DEATH!  You would be stupid to not get this book.  Go and pre-order it now YOU WILL NOT BE SORRY!!!!!

Rating 5 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By HarperCollins Childrens Books

This Can Be Purchased HERE and at all good book stores

This Is Due For Release On The 3rd May 2011

Another Author Signing At Eternal Twilight 6 - Marcus Sedgwick

Earlier I posted about Kate Harrison attending ET6 & I've just seen the news that the AWESOME Marcus Sedgwick will be attending on the Sunday!!!

All the details can be found HERE

Here's What the Forum Says about his appearance & Upcoming book

"Marcus will be in attendance on Sunday. He will be taking part in a 30 minute talk and signing copies of his upcoming book MIDWINTERBLOOD.

Have you ever had the feeling that you've lived another life? Been somewhere that has felt totally familiar even when you've never been there before, or felt that you've known someone even though you are meeting them for the first time?

‘I will live seven times and I will look for you and love you in each life. Will you follow?’

In 2073 on the remote and secretive island of Blessed, where rumour has it that no one ages and no children are born, a visiting journalist, Eric Seven, and a young local woman known as Merle are ritually slain. Their deaths echo a moment ten centuries before, when, in the dark of the moon, a King and his queen were tragically torn apart. Their souls search to be reunited as mother and son, artist and child, forbidden lovers, victims of a vampire, but only a bloody sacrifice will rekindle their true love.

Beautifully imagined, intricately and cleverly structured this is a heart wrenching and breathtaking love story, but it also has the hallmark Sedgwick gothic touch with plenty of blood-spilling, a vampire and sacrifice."

I think this is shaping up to e a truly Fabulous convention!!

Eternal Twilight 6 Website

Author Signing At Eternal Twilight 6 - Kate Harrison

As some of you know I am a big Twilight fan & always attend Massive Events Conventions for the films.  Well they have made it a kind of tradition to bring authors of YA books to the events.  This is pure heaven for me!!

Today we got a new author announcement for Eternal Twilight 6 Taking Place In October

KATE HARRISON

She's going to be signing copies of her first YA novel on the Saturday

All the details can be found HERE

Here's a bit about her new book

When Alice Forster receives an email from her dead sister she assumes it must be a sick practical joke. Then an invitation arrives to the virtual world of Soul Beach, an idyllic online paradise of sun, sea and sand where Alice can finally talk to her sister again - and discover a new world of friendships, secrets and maybe even love . . . .

But why is Soul Beach only inhabited by the young, the beautiful and the dead? Who really murdered Megan Forster? And could Alice be next?

The first book in an intriguing and compelling trilogy centred around the mystery of Megan Forster's death.





 You can Find More out About Kate On Her website  http://www.kate-harrison.com/

In My Mailbox (12)

In My Mailbox Is An Awesome Blog Post Idea Hosted By The Story Siren

All links will take you to Amazon

Once again I was really lucky and had a fabulous book week.  Managed to find some awesome reads on my travels too.  Here's what I got...

Bought

These First Two I got from charity shops, I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw them on the shelves!

 Wicked By Gregory Maguire

I actually already have a copy of this, but in paperback.  I've never seen a hardback edition & when I found this I was so excited.  I'm sure its meant to have a dustcover, but this edition should not be covered anyway - its GORGEOUS!  Plus the Pages are GREEN!!!

The Dark Divine By Bree Despain

I have wanted to read this one for ages & for one reason or another I just hadn't got a copy, but I am so ecstatic to finally have it

 Wither By Lauren DeStefano

This I got from the US, as its not out in the UK for months yet.  The premise of the story sounds incredible, I can't wait to start it.  Plus the cover - OMG it is so pretty!!  Even my Mum made a little gasp when she saw it

Inside Out By Maria V. Snyder

As you may have read before I adored Maria's Study series of books, so based on my love of her work I had to get this.  Another series I am eager to get my teeth into

 Morning Glories issue 8

This has to be one of my favorite series of comics.  The stories are just amazing

You can find the first 6 issues HERE, in a Graphic Novel

Gift

So as some of you may have noticed Jenny over at Wondrous Reads is one of my best friends & she supplies me with so much reading material - she is a true LEGEND!  This week I got:

Desires Of The Dead By Kimberly Derting

I finished reading the Body Finder last week & absolutely adored it.  Jenny saw my fangirl tweets & so sent me along the next part of the story.  SO HAPPY!!!

I also got a District 19 postcard and some awesome Hunger Games Tattoos

That's my lot for the week - its been epic!!

Hope you all got some amazing reads too?!

L-L 

xoxo

Book Theme Tunes: The Body Finder

I like most people love to listen to music whilst I read.  Its two of my favorite things that I can mix - you can't do that with many hobbies!  Well sometimes just by chance you will listen to a song that fits the story perfectly.  These posts will be dedicated to my two big loves!!


The Body Finder features a beautiful love story between Violet & Jay, something that completely benefits from a theme song.  Just by chance on the very last pages I was listening to the most perfect song for this book, so I had to share - hope you enjoy as much as I did

The song is: Pieces By Red

You can find my review of The Body Finder HERE

Cover Reveal: The Mortal Instruments Comic

Today on the Fabulous Cassandra Clare's facebook & twitter pages, the cover for the eagerly awaited 'The Mortal Instruments' comic, cover was revealed - YAY!!!!

Here is what Cassandra has to say about it - 

"Cover of TMI comic #1 and update on comics/graphic novels: "Issue 1 is lettered (waiting on tweaks from letterer now and then you'll see it) issue 1 is almost done being colored and issue 2 is underway. Issue 4 is being adapted and by next week the artist will be halfway through the art on issue 3." Still aiming for winter publication."

Facebook link  

I am so excited for this release!  I had to go on a hunt to get the free copy that came out on free comic book day last year!!!  

Review - The Body Finder By Kimberly Derting

"Violet Ambrose is grappling with two major issues: Jay Heaton and her morbid secret ability. While the sixteen-year-old is confused by her new feelings for her best friend, she is more disturbed by her "power" to sense dead bodies - or at least those that have been murdered. Since she was a little girl, she has felt the echoes the dead leave behind in the world...and the imprints that attach to their killers.

Violet has never considered her strange talent to be a gift, but now that a serial killer is terrorizing her small town Violet realizes she might be the only person who can stop him.

Despite his fierce protectiveness over her, Jay reluctantly agrees to help Violet find the murderer - and Violet is unnerved by her hope that Jay's intentions are much more than friendly. But even as she's falling in love, Violet is getting closer to discovering a killer...and becoming his prey herself."

This book has been on my shelf for a little while and I've been eager to start it, so finally did.  I've heard so many rave reviews for it & now know why!!!

The cover is gorgeous.  Such a fabulous vivid picture, but I don't really see what it has to do with the story.  If anyone knows feel free to fill me in ;)

The book starts with a prologue that totally immerses you in the story straight away.  I found the book so easy to read & kind of become a part of.  Always a brilliant sign.

Something that totally took me by surprise was the way certain chapters were written.  I don't want to say too much as I found it a brilliant / morbid shock and I don't want to take that away from anyone.   But it did reinstill my agoraphobia a little - it was that well written

Violet was a fantastic lead character.  I think most people could to relate to her in some way.  And I can confirm that having curly hair can be a nightmare, it really is a plight!

The realtionship between Violet & Jay is amazing.  I can honestly say that Jay is one of my new 'Fictional Husbands'  He is just perfect & I want one of my very own - pretty please!!!

I loved that the book had two fabulous contasting storylines to read.  It was both a beautiful love story & a disturbing thriller.  I was eager to turn the page to see what storyline I'd find.  For me this was pretty unique and just amazing!

This came with twists and turns at every page & I can say the end was not entirely predictable.  I'm happy if I guess aspects, but its always a treat when you get a shock, which I got plenty of!

This book brought about so many emotions - I was excited, thrilled, heartwarmed, disturbed, unsettled - you name it, I felt it - and I LOVED every second of it.  Please, Please, Please go and get a copy of this for yourself and enjoy it as much as I did!!

Rating 4 1/2 Out Of 5

Published In The UK By Headline

This Can be Purchased HERE and at all good book stores